Alan Kelly
Question:603. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education when a child (details supplied) will get their appointment with the National Educational Psychological Service. [18152/23]
View answerTuesday, 18 April 2023
Questions (603)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all recognised primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for responses to queries arising, and access to individual pupil casework where there is need via a NEPS psychologist or through the Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA).
NEPS does not maintain waiting lists, but in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution oriented consultative approach to maximise positive outcomes for these pupils. NEPS encourages schools to use a continuum based assessment and intervention process whereby each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural difficulties. Teachers may consult their NEPS psychologist should they need to at this stage in the process. Where reasonable progress is not made, following a school's best efforts in consultation with NEPS, a psychologist may become involved with an individual child for intensive intervention or assessment. This system allows psychologists to give early attention to urgent cases and also to help many more children indirectly than could be seen individually.
It is important to note that under the Special Education Teacher model pupils do not have to have a psychological assessment, or a diagnosis of a disability, in order to access supports in the school.
Where a parent/guardian has a concern about their child’s progress in school, they should request a meeting with the Principal to discuss the child's needs and the supports the school have put in place, and if appropriate to consider a consultation with a NEPS psychologist.
In relation to the pupil to which the Deputy refers, NEPS has not received a Request for Intervention from the school which this pupil attends at this time.